Last Manhattanhenge Sunset of 2013 in NYC Tonight

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New Yorkers will be treated to a special view this evening (July
13), as the setting sun aligns with Manhattan's east-to-west,
grid-patterned streets. While it will be the last time this year
that the Big Apple experiences this "magic" sunset show, clouds
and rain are threatening to spoil the spectacle.

The phenomenon, nicknamed " Manhattanhenge,"
happens four times a year — twice with a full sunset and twice
with a half sunset. (Last night's
sunset show was rained out.) Tonight's event will be the
fourth and last of the year; the city previously experienced
Manhattanhenge on May 28, May 29, and most recently yesterday
(July 12).

Current weather forecasts for New York City show a 30 percent
chance of rain at sunset this evening, but if conditions are
clear, the full effect of Manhattanhenge will be visible at 8:24
p.m. EDT. At that time, the half sunset will be at its optimal
point, when half of the sun appears on the horizon, and the other
half below. Warning: Never look directly at the
sun, as it is very dangerous and can cause permanent eye damage.
[See
Photos of Amazing Sunsets & Sunrises]

For the best experience, head outside about a half-hour earlier
than the time of the actual sunset, said
astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, director
of the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium,
in a blog post on the museum's website.

"For the best effect, position yourself as far east in Manhattan
as possible," wrote Tyson, who coined the term "Manhattanhenge"
in 2001, and is credited with popularizing the event. "But ensure
that when you look west across the avenues you can still see New
Jersey."

Some of the clearest cross streets include 14th, 23rd, 34th,
42nd, 57th and several of the streets immediately adjacent to
these wide boulevards. "The Empire State building and the
Chrysler building render 34th street and 42nd streets especially
striking vistas," Tyson said.

Manhattanhenge is a play on the name Stonhenge,
a prehistoric monument that lies north of the modern-day city of
Salisbury, England. Once a year, the sunrise is perfectly aligned
with the stones that make up the mysterious megalith.

Several other cities in the United States with grid-patterned
streets also experience similar sunsets, including Baltimore and
Chicago.

Editor's note: If you snap an amazing photo of
Manhattanhenge and you'd like to share it for a possible story or
image gallery on LiveScience.com, please send images and
comments, including equipment used, to Denise Chow
at dchow@livescience.com.